Elk and Fir Photography. Image via Lana and Lester’s relaxed Yeppoon beach wedding.
So, you’ve popped the question, set the date and decided to opt for a summer wedding. And why not? Australia is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and a summer wedding with blue sky and still weather can be all kinds of romantic.
But let’s face it, the elements can be harsh and you’re pretty vulnerable to Mother Nature at the best of times. So how can you take care of yourself while still looking sharp for your summer wedding? I’ve done some digging to find a few must haves for any groom who’s a bit concerned about the harsh summer weather. Thank me when you look back at your pictures and you aren’t a sweaty, sunburnt mess!
Lip Balm
There is nothing worse than chapped lips. And whether its windburn or sunburn, the summer weather can be brutal on them. So, what’s a groom to do?
I recommend checking out Brickell’s range, especially the organic Men’s No Shine Lip Balm. The SPF 15 balm is perfect to keep lips protected and nourished for that all important, first kiss. And it’s no shine, so no one will even know you’re wearing it! Just quietly though, the best part has to be the light peppermint flavour.
Bonus: It’s also good in cold weather.
Where can I get it?
Available online from Pureman for $11.
Sunscreen
While we’re talking SPF you’re probably going to want to look after that face of yours, unless you want to look like a beetroot in all your wedding snaps. But it’s so hard to find a good face sunscreen that isn’t thick, white, greasy or makes you break out.
Jack Black is one of the world’s top selling men’s skincare ranges in the world, and not because they share the same name as the Tenacious D singer and School of Rock actor. Their oil free SPF 45 sunscreen is the perfect choice to get you through your big day. It’s light, fast absorbing and free from odour or oily residue. It stays on in extreme conditions and won’t drip in your eyes – so you don’t have to worry about squinting as your future spouse strolls down the sandy aisle.
It’s also ‘very water resistant’ – which is handy, in case you want to have a dip before the nuptials get underway. In fact, it gets its ‘very water resistant’ name from its ability retain its SPF after 80 minutes of sweating or activity in water – so you won’t need to apply if you’re sweating your way through the ceremony.
Where can I get it?
Available online at StrawberryNet for $40.50.
Deodorant
It doesn’t matter where you get married, nerves often equal sweat. Standing at the top of the aisle waiting for my bride with 100 of our friends and family was pretty daunting and it’s safe to say I was sweating up a storm. Although that might have had something to do with the 35-degree weather and 3000 per cent humidity. Thanks, Melbourne.
Either way, you’re going to want a high-quality deodorant to have your back (and underarms) on your big day. There are obviously a ton of different deodorants out there, but I recommend Hunter Lab’s natural roll on deodorant. The Hunter Lab crew are all about uniting the traditional grooming experience with high quality, natural, scientifically formulated and environmentally sustainable products. Their natural roll on deodorant is crafted with coconut and jojoba oils as well as shea butter to form a protective layer and help absorb sweat and neutralise odour.
It’s a beautiful deodorant but a word of warning for the uninitiated to natural and aluminium free deodorants, you might want to start using the deodorant a few weeks before you tie the knot. There is a transition period when introducing a natural deodorant into your repertoire where you might perspire more than usual for a week or two as your body adjusts. After a couple of weeks your body will rebalance and you should start perspiring less! Good news for your future spouse and bridal party!
Where can I get it?
Available at Hunter Lab for $34
Skin Care
It’s easy to forget about it, but you definitely need a solid skincare routine in the lead up to your wedding day. The last thing any bride or groom wants is dull and dry skin. A simple but effective skincare routine in the lead up to your wedding day is your ticket to a bright and youthful complexion.
Zoe Foster Blake’s skincare range ‘Go-To’ has a pretty awesome men’s range called ‘Bro-To’. It’s suitable for all skin types and easy to use. I recommend Bro-To Properly Clean ($31) ‘a very soft (but also tough and dangerous) cleansing mousse’ that is ‘extremely masculine’ according to the Go-To website.
Follow it up with Bro-To very useful face cream which is ‘full of the exact stuff manly male stuff skin really needs’. To be honest, I could live without all the ‘extremely masculine’ references on the Bro-To range (slightly patronising), but the products speak for themselves.
Where can I get it?
Available online at Go-To Skincare for $41
A hat
Last but not least, you might want to think about a hat for your noggin. It’s a tough call, as you may not want the hat in your wedding photos, but if you’ve chosen an outdoor summer wedding, it can actually complement the surrounds. Even if you’ve got some shade, and some of the Jack Black sunscreen I recommended earlier, a hat can be a great accessory that really adds to your outfit.
There’s an endless supply of hat retailers out there, but I can’t go past Will and Bear. The hats are inspired by nature, and mirror the earthy tones of the country around us making it easy to fit in to the natural scape for an outdoor wedding. Will and Bear are committed to giving back to the planet so if you purchase one for your wedding outfit, ten trees will be planted in West Africa.
Where can I get it?
Prices start from $99 at Will and Bear.
Ms Zebra Says: It’s so important to keep your face looking good in the lead up to a summer wedding…great tips to keep your face free from sunburn and lips kissable for when you say ‘I do’!
About the author Mr Houndstooth: I am a happily married man. I enjoy a fine whisky, a new suit and swashbuckling around town with my beautiful bride. Looking back on my wedding day always makes me smile, even though it began to rain just as I said ‘I do’.
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